This is a much older expression than you might think—first recorded in 1863 in The New York Times.
That article complained about those people who know almost nothing about international affairs who believe that everything happening in the world is planned in smoke-filled back rooms by a handful of powerful people.
The journalist makes the point the ‘conspiracy theorists’ don’t understand ‘the complications which render such a conspiracy impossible.’
In 1952 Sir Karl Poppper demonstrated that the ‘conspiracy theory of society’ is logically impossible in his powerfully argued book The Open Society and Its Enemies.
Despite which, there is a conspiracy theory that is currently very popular in Australia—the so-called ‘Jewish lobby’ or ‘Zionist lobby’ or ‘Israel lobby’ conspiracy theory.
This claims that the media and the government are being controlled by a secretive Jewish or Israeli or Zionist lobby.
People as apparently respectable as politicians, ex-politicians, writers, community leaders (and many more) dismiss antisemitism as a scare campaign whipped up by a secretive ‘Jewish’ or ‘Zionist’ or ‘Israeli’ lobby.
This conspiracy theory can be traced back to a famous antisemitic forgery called The Protocols of the Elders of Zion published in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
It was a pack of lies when that thoroughly nasty book was published, and it is still a pack of lies to this day.
Sadly, the so-called ‘pro-Palestinian’ activists are busy pushing this conspiracy theory and are persuading intelligent people to believe them.
Be warned.
Never believe any popular ‘conspiracy theory’—they are the fictional nonsense that Karl Popper exposed them as being all those years ago.
The latest issue of The Spectator Australia is in newsagents now -- with a cartoon of "ooshienomics" on the front cover and my 'Language' column in the back.
There is a new episode of the podcast 'Words with Kel Richards' now out (with the dateline September 2026). To listen to it either scroll further down this page -- or go to wherever you usually get your podcasts.
My latest column (about the decline of the Liberal Party) is now available at News24 online. Here's the link: Next month marks 11 years since the Liberal Party began its slow decline into electoral irrelevance | News24
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BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
